It is 15 years since the UK last won Eurovision but the BBC will turn the clock back rather further than that in its bid to break the embarrassingly long losing streak at this year's song contest.

Engelbert Humperdinck, the 75-year old singer best known for his 1967 hit, Release Me, has been chosen to carry the hopes of a nation still shell-shocked by the "nul points" won by Jemini in 2003.

Humperdinck – real name Arnold Dorsey – has sold more than 150m albums in a career spanning six decades but younger viewers could be forgiven for not recognising hits such as After the Lovin' and The Last Waltz.

The BBC, which chose the UK's entry in 2011 after more than 50 years of viewers picking the Eurovision performer, said it "couldn't be more delighted".

The BBC said it considered a number of artists and chose Humperdinck after hearing the songs he is working on for his new studio album. The corporation had only moderate success with its choice for last year's Eurovision, former boyband Blue, who finished 11th after garnering 100 points for their effort, I Can. It turned out they couldn't.

Humperdinck, who divides his time between Los Angeles and Leicester, said it was an "absolute honour" to have been chosen to represent his country. "When the BBC approached me, it just felt right for me to be a part of an institution like Eurovision," he said. "I'm excited and raring to go and want the nation to get behind me." He at least has the consolation of not having much to live up to. "Royaume-Uni" has finished bottom three times in the past decade and last won with Love Shine A Light by Katrina and the Waves in 1997. Such was the frustration at the so-called "bloc voting" of some countries at the UK's expense that the BBC's erstwhile commentator Sir Terry Wogan quit the job in a huff in 2009.

But the programme remains hugely popular with viewers. With BBC commentary duties now being carried out by Graham Norton, last year's final was watched by nearly 13 million viewers, its largest audience for more than a decade.

The Azerbaijan capital of Baku will host this year's 57th Eurovision final on 26 May after its entry Ell/Nikki won last year's contest in Dusseldorf.

Katie Taylor, the BBC's head of entertainment and events, said: "Not since the 70s have we had such an established international musical legend represent the nation … Engelbert's experience leaves us in no doubt that he will be able to deliver a standout performance in front of 120 million viewers worldwide."

There will be no shortage of talent behind the new song. The title remains a closely guarded secret, but it will be produced by Grammy award-winning Martin Terefe and co-written with Ivor Novello winner Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt's You're Beautiful.

In the same year that Release Me topped the charts – it kept the Beatles' double A side of Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane off the top spot – Sandie Shaw won Eurovision for the UK with Puppet on a String.

The country was later represented by the likes of Cliff Richard and the Brotherhood of Man, who won in 1976 with Save Your Kisses For Me, and Bucks Fizz, another winner in 1981 with Making Your Mind Up.

Derek McLean, the BBC's creative director of entertainment, said: "Engelbert has an incredible musical history and heritage, especially in the UK and Europe. He's working with some of the best people in music to come up with the UK's song for this year's Eurovision. We're very proud to have him on board."